Chapter 4

I sold our wedding home.

It was a gift I had given Victoria.

My name was on the deed, and Victoria had voluntarily chosen not to add hers.

She said, "Daniel, I'm not with you for your money, I'm just with you for you. If I ever betray you, you can just kick me out."

Now I decided to kick her out for good, and everything I had ever invested, I would take back.

After agreeing on a price, I went to the real estate agency and signed the contract.

I hadn't wanted to see Victoria again, but the new owner insisted I accompany them for the inspection, so I reluctantly went and knocked on the door.

Victoria opened it in her pajamas and slippers, looking a bit tired. I glanced around; indeed, many things were gone, and there were no signs of Leo.

The owner frowned at the numerous wedding decals throughout the house. "Why are you selling a wedding home?"

Older generations had superstitions; they avoided buying houses meant for newlyweds, believing all the good luck would be sucked out.

I quickly explained, "We didn't have the wedding yet. We were preparing for it, but it didn't happen. We hadn't even moved in as a married couple."

The owner was immediately satisfied. A house like this, they thought, would be brimming with good luck.

"Perfect, I'll buy it for my daughter's wedding home. No need for renovations, she can move right in."

Victoria frowned. "Daniel, you're selling the house? What does this mean?"

I said blandly, "I need money."

Victoria paused. "If you need money, tell me! I can lend it to you. Why would you sell the house?"

"Our wedding is in only seven days, there's no time to buy another house. We can discuss it after the wedding, okay, Daniel…"

The owner became impatient. "No, that won't do. I won't buy a house that's already been lived in as a married couple. Besides, I've already paid. You need to move out."

I nodded. "It's fine. My name is on the deed, so I make the decisions. The contract is signed. We'll be out in three days."

The crowd dispersed, and Victoria and I sat facing each other, silent for a while.

Victoria cautiously began, "Daniel, are you going through some difficulty?"

I casually replied, "Immigration. They require financial verification. I'm two million short, so I sold it to make up the number."

Watching the final approval go through, my heart finally settled. I stood up, ready to leave.

"Alright, Victoria. Remember to move out in three days. From now on, we owe each other nothing."

Ten years. How could we owe each other nothing? It was just that I didn't want to bother counting anymore.

But Victoria insisted on counting.

She stood up. "What exactly do you mean? A grown man, running away from home *and* selling our wedding home? Are you trying to back out of the marriage? Daniel, have you had enough of this tantrum? You're an adult. I indulged your moods, and now you're being relentless, is that it? Selling a house, you’d actually do that? And immigration? Have you ever even been out of the country? Do you have any idea how complicated immigration is?"

That, I genuinely didn't know. I only knew Audrey had been tirelessly handling all the preparations for me. I’d have to thank her properly.

I looked at her, puzzled. "Didn't you stand me up at the wedding? Are you blaming me now?"

Victoria stammered, "That was… that was…"

"That was you saying goodbye to your past, for my benefit. But Victoria, how many times has Leo been in this house?"

I answered for Victoria. But at the second question, she fell completely silent.

That night, for six hours, I counted. Ninety-three times, it was in this house, on our bed.

"Since this is my house, and it's been defiled, I'm going to sell it. Is there a problem with that?"

"Are we supposed to have our wedding night on the same bed where you and him… I find it disgusting."